The Michelson Prize & Grants in Reproductive Biology is a $75M program that exists to incentivize research through prize philanthropy and grant funding to rapidly develop a permanent, single-dose, nonsurgical sterilant for male and female cats and dogs.

Apply for a Michelson Grant

Scientists wishing to be considered for Michelson Grant funding for research in pursuit of nonsurgical sterilization methods for cats and dogs must submit a brief letter of intent (LOI). LOIs may be submitted at any time, and we aim to review all LOIs within one month of submission.

To submit a letter of intent, please follow the steps below.

Step 1: Review our Online Resources

Found Animals provides valuable online resources to assist applicants in submitting successful letters of intent. The following resources must be reviewed prior to LOI submission:

Investigators are encouraged, but not required, to review the Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs (ACC&D)'s white paper entitled Contraception and Fertility Control in Dogs & Cats. This document provides information about advantages and limitations of current approaches.

Step 2: Prepare your LOI

The LOI must contain:

Investigators' names, institution, address, phone, email, and a title descriptive of the work proposed

Confirmation that the applicant has reviewed the resources outlined in Step 1 above

The LOI must be limited to two typed pages, have 3/4 inch margins, use 11 point Arial or Helvetica font, and be submitted in English. Found Animals reserves the right to decline LOIs that do not conform to these guidelines.

As a reference for applicants, Found Animals has created a fictional sample letter of intent, which is formatted to the LOI guidelines.

Tips for Applicants:

When developing an approach, investigators are encouraged to keep in mind the mission of the Michelson Prize & Grants program, which is to reduce shelter euthanasia of pets with a single-dose, permanent, safe sterilant.

An injectable or implantable route of administration is preferred to oral, intranasal, or other formulations. LOIs pursuing bait or feed products will not be considered.

Though the board will consider approaches hypothesized to be effective in a single gender or species only, the potential product must represent a significant improvement over existing products in order for the proposal to be funded (information about current products is available on the ACC&D website).

For an unproven concept, we recommend proposing a small pilot/proof of concept study rather than a large project.

Preliminary data should be provided to justify the proposed approach. These data may have been generated in the applicant's laboratory, another laboratory, or may be referenced from the literature.

Investigators with controlled release technologies or other sophisticated delivery approaches are encouraged to consider potential collaborations. Email addresses are provided for all Michelson Grant-funded researchers.

The title for your letter of intent should be descriptive of the work proposed [i.e. Not: "A Nonsurgical Sterilant for Dogs and Cats"; But: "Destruction of Hypophyseal GnRH Receptors Using Intravenous Kryptonite: Proof of Concept Study in Mice"]

You do not need to include information about pet overpopulation in your letter, as we are already aware of the magnitude of this problem.

Applicants should be aware that Santa Cruz Biotechnology, a large distributor of antibody and siRNA products, has been accused by the USDA of being in willful violation of the Animal Welfare Act; more information about this can be viewed here. As an animal welfare foundation with the health and well-being of animals being of utmost importance to us, Found Animals is encouraging applicants not to consider using this vendor in their proposed Michelson Grant-funded research until the company's alleged animal welfare violations have been resolved.

Step 3: Submit your LOI

Send your LOI as an attachment to michelsonprize@foundanimals.org. In the text of the email, indicate where you first learned about the funding opportunity.

Review Process

If an LOI is approved, investigators will be invited to submit a full grant proposal and will be provided with the guidelines for proposal submission. Proposals must be submitted within two grant cycles of the LOI approval date.

Feedback from Scientific Advisory Board reviewers is provided to applicants at both the LOI and proposal stages. LOI applicants have one opportunity to submit a revised LOI incorporating reviewer feedback. Proposal resubmissions will be accepted only if invited by the Scientific Advisory Board, and must be submitted within two grant cycles of the initial proposal disapproval. Final decisions on grant funding are at the sole discretion of Found Animals.

Upon approval of the Michelson Grant proposal, applicant institutions enter into grant agreements with Found Animals. Read more about Grant Agreements.

Found Animals primary mission is the happiness and safety of animals. From microchips and registration, to responsible adoption initiatives and low-cost spay and neuter surgeries, we are committed to delivering practical solutions that will ensure the health and safety of dogs and cats nationwide. At Found Animals, we’re on the animal’s side.
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In 2008, Found Animals launched the $75 million Michelson Prize & Grants in Reproductive Biology in pursuit of a single-dose, nonsurgical sterilant for cats and dogs. We envision a world in which this product is widely available to animal care professionals as a means to eliminate shelter euthanasia.
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Adopt & Shop is committed to creating opportunities for every animal to find a home and the resources to live a long, happy life. As part of Found Animals, we put our money where our hearts are, reinvesting proceeds to improve the well-being of animals everywhere. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization we are for pets, not for profit.
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